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Report: Tony La Russa a candidate to become Mariners' president

Tony La Russa was elected to the Hall of Fame in December. (Preston Mack/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Tony La Russa is a candidate to become the Seattle Mariners' next president, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported on Thursday. The Mariners are searching for a replacement for the outgoing Chuck Armstrong, who announced last year that he would step down at the end of January.

Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln told Nightengale that the Mariners have begun the interview process with two internal candidates. Lincoln and the Mariners board of directors could determine that one of those candidates is suited for the job, which would preclude a serious look into La Russa.

"I'm interested in getting to the competition upstairs,'' La Russa said. "I've missed the competition since I left the field. I talked to the commissioner [Bud Selig] about it. It's not a thing where you miss the dugout, but I miss the winning and losing.